BISHKEK – A nephew of ousted Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev has lost his appeal against a 10-year jail sentence handed down to him in connection with deadly unrest in southern Kyrgyzstan last year, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Chui Oblast Court today upheld the verdict against Sanjar Bakiev and four co-defendants.
Sanjar Bakiev pleaded guilty to involvement in deadly riots in the city of Jalal-Abad in May. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail on November 2 but appealed the sentence.
Last week, Chui Oblast prosecutor demanded Bakiev's prison term be lengthened to 25 years.
The court today also upheld verdicts against Sanjar Bakiev's co-defendants: Bektursun Keldibekov (eight years in jail); Bazarbai Arzygulov (four years); Zamir Nuriev (three years); and Mirlan Akhmedov (two years).
Last May, groups allegedly associated with the former president temporarily seized the city hall in the southern city of Jalal-Abad. That was followed by unrest in Jalal-Abad the following week when demonstrators tried to storm a university. At least two people were killed in the clashes.
Sanjar Bakiev was charged with helping organize the earlier incident and with illegal possession of weapons.
His appeal was held near Bishkek for security reasons.
Former President Bakiev lives in Belarus, where he eventually fled after being ousted in April last year. Several of his brothers and two of his sons are wanted in Kyrgyzstan for alleged financial crimes.
Read in Kyrgyz here
Chui Oblast Court today upheld the verdict against Sanjar Bakiev and four co-defendants.
Sanjar Bakiev pleaded guilty to involvement in deadly riots in the city of Jalal-Abad in May. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail on November 2 but appealed the sentence.
Last week, Chui Oblast prosecutor demanded Bakiev's prison term be lengthened to 25 years.
The court today also upheld verdicts against Sanjar Bakiev's co-defendants: Bektursun Keldibekov (eight years in jail); Bazarbai Arzygulov (four years); Zamir Nuriev (three years); and Mirlan Akhmedov (two years).
Last May, groups allegedly associated with the former president temporarily seized the city hall in the southern city of Jalal-Abad. That was followed by unrest in Jalal-Abad the following week when demonstrators tried to storm a university. At least two people were killed in the clashes.
Sanjar Bakiev was charged with helping organize the earlier incident and with illegal possession of weapons.
His appeal was held near Bishkek for security reasons.
Former President Bakiev lives in Belarus, where he eventually fled after being ousted in April last year. Several of his brothers and two of his sons are wanted in Kyrgyzstan for alleged financial crimes.
Read in Kyrgyz here
